Railcar braking system
First Claim
1. A brake system for a train including a locomotive and a plurality of cars connected to the locomotive, intercommunicating brake pipes on the cars and locomotive, air supply means on the locomotive for supplying air to the brake pipes, each car further including an air supply reservoir, a manually operable retainer valve, a brake cylinder for producing a braking function, means for directing air from the air supply to the brake cylinder for brake application and venting that air for brake release, said air directing means on at least one of the cars further including a control valve and a car control device for operating the control valve, the control valve responding to either pneumatic signals from the brake pipe or electronic signals from the car control device,said car control valve including a pneumatically pilot operated relay valve for connecting the supply reservoir to the brake cylinder, a solenoid operated application valve responsive to a brake application signal from the car control device to produce a pilot pressure in a pilot line to said relay valve for actuating said relay valve to supply braking air to the brake cylinder, a solenoid operated release valve responding to brake release signals from the car control device venting the pilot pressure in said pilot line, a two-position pneumatically actuable brake cylinder release valve connected to said relay valve and the brake cylinder and having an exhaust connected to said retainer valve, means for latching said cylinder release valve in one position for normal service application functions, and means for driving said cylinder release valve to another position for connecting the brake cylinder to the retainer valve during exhausting of the brake cylinder, and a pneumatic emergency circuit for producing an emergency pilot pressure and providing emergency braking functions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pneumatic railcar braking system for freight or passenger cars, wherein the system is operable as an electronically controlled pneumatic brake system in conjunction with a head end unit in the locomotive or as a conventional pneumatic brake system in conjunction with a pneumatic brake control in the locomotive.
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Citations
59 Claims
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1. A brake system for a train including a locomotive and a plurality of cars connected to the locomotive, intercommunicating brake pipes on the cars and locomotive, air supply means on the locomotive for supplying air to the brake pipes, each car further including an air supply reservoir, a manually operable retainer valve, a brake cylinder for producing a braking function, means for directing air from the air supply to the brake cylinder for brake application and venting that air for brake release, said air directing means on at least one of the cars further including a control valve and a car control device for operating the control valve, the control valve responding to either pneumatic signals from the brake pipe or electronic signals from the car control device,
said car control valve including a pneumatically pilot operated relay valve for connecting the supply reservoir to the brake cylinder, a solenoid operated application valve responsive to a brake application signal from the car control device to produce a pilot pressure in a pilot line to said relay valve for actuating said relay valve to supply braking air to the brake cylinder, a solenoid operated release valve responding to brake release signals from the car control device venting the pilot pressure in said pilot line, a two-position pneumatically actuable brake cylinder release valve connected to said relay valve and the brake cylinder and having an exhaust connected to said retainer valve, means for latching said cylinder release valve in one position for normal service application functions, and means for driving said cylinder release valve to another position for connecting the brake cylinder to the retainer valve during exhausting of the brake cylinder, and a pneumatic emergency circuit for producing an emergency pilot pressure and providing emergency braking functions.
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30. A brake system for a train including a locomotive and a plurality of cars connected to the locomotive, intercommunicating brake pipes on the cars and locomotive, air supply means on the locomotive for supplying air to the brake pipes, each car further including an air supply reservoir, a manually operated retainer valve, brake cylinders for producing a braking function for the car, a car control valve between the brake pipe and the air supply reservoir controlling the air pressure in said reservoir and the operation of the supply of braking air to said cylinders, and a car control device for sending electronic command signals to said car control valve, said car control valve further being responsive to pneumatic command signals from said brake pipe, said car control valve comprising:
a pilot operated relay valve for selectively supplying braking air to and exhausting braking air from said brake cylinders, electronically controlled means for controlling the pilot pressure in a pilot line to said relay valve during service application and release braking functions, pressure transducers connected to the brake pipe, brake cylinder, pilot line and air supply reservoir for providing electronic signals to said car control device corresponding to the transducer pressures, and a pneumatically actuated brake cylinder release valve for providing manual operation of said brake cylinders and service and emergency braking functions. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A brake system for a train including a locomotive and a plurality of cars connected to the locomotive, intercommunicating brake pipes on the cars and locomotive, air supply means on the locomotive for supplying air to the brake pipes, each car further including an air supply reservoir, brake cylinders for producing a braking function for the car, a car control valve between the brake pipe and the air supply reservoir controlling the air pressure in said reservoir and the operation of the supply of braking air to said cylinders, and a car control device for sending electronic command signals to said car control valve, said car control valve further being responsive to pneumatic command signals from said brake pipe, said car control valve comprising:
a dual piloted relay valve having one pilot for selectively supplying braking air to and exhausting braking air from said brake cylinders in response to a first pilot pressure in a first pilot line controlled by electronic application and release valves and a second pilot overriding the first pilot pressure in response to pneumatic commands from the brake pipe in the event power is lost to the car control device, pressure transducers connected to the brake pipe, brake cylinder, first pilot line and air supply reservoir for providing electronic signals to said car control device corresponding to transducer pressures, a pneumatically actuated brake cylinder release valve for providing application, release, emergency and manual operation of said brake cylinders and service and emergency braking functions, an inshot valve between said relay valve and said cylinder release responding to an emergency braking signal for accelerating the flow of braking air to the brake cylinders, a pneumatic latching means for pneumatically latching said cylinder release valve in the brake application or emergency brake function positions, and an electronic override valve responding to an electronic signal from the car control device for preventing an emergency braking function in response to a pneumatic command signal. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A brake system for a train including a locomotive and a plurality of cars connected to the locomotive, intercommunicating brake pipes on the cars and locomotive, air supply means on the locomotive for supplying air to the brake pipes, each car further including an air supply reservoir, brake cylinders for producing a braking function for the car, a car control valve between the brake pipe and the air supply reservoir controlling the air pressure in said reservoir and the operation of the supply of braking air to said cylinders, and a car control device for sending electronic command signals to said car control valve,
a dual piloted relay valve having one pilot for selectively supplying braking air to and exhausting braking air from said brake cylinders in response to a first pilot pressure in a first pilot line controlled by electronic application and release valves and a second pilot overriding the first pilot pressure in response to pneumatic commands from the brake pipe in the event power is lost to the car control device, pressure transducers connected to the brake pipe, brake cylinder, first pilot line and air supply reservoir for providing electronic signals to said car control device corresponding to transducer pressures, a pneumatically actuated brake cylinder release valve for providing application, release, emergency and manual operation of said brake cylinders and service and emergency braking functions, a pneumatic latching means for pneumatically latching said cylinder release valve in the brake application or emergency brake function positions, reset or re-apply means for resetting the brake cylinder release valve for normal service application functions, and a pneumatic backup valve responsive to the brake pipe pressure in the event the car control device loses power to actuate said relay valve for an emergency braking function.
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59. A brake system for a train including a locomotive and a plurality of cars connected to the locomotive, intercommunicating brake pipes on the cars and locomotive, air supply means on the locomotive for supplying air to the brake pipes, each car further including an air supply reservoir, a manually operated retainer valve, brake cylinders for producing a braking function for the car, a car control valve between the brake pipe and the air supply reservoir controlling the air pressure in said reservoir and the operation of the supply of braking air to said cylinders, and a car control device for sending electronic command signals to said car control valve, said car control valve further being responsive to pneumatic command signals from said brake pipe, said car control valve comprising:
a pilot operated relay valve for selectively supplying braking air to and exhausting braking air from said brake cylinders, electronically controlled means for controlling the pilot pressure in a pilot line to said relay valve during service application and release braking functions, pressure transducers connected to the brake pipe, pilot line and air supply reservoir for providing electronic signals to said car control device corresponding to the transducer pressures, and a pneumatically actuated brake cylinder release valve for providing manual operation of said brake cylinders and service and emergency braking functions.
Specification